Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Seahawks


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments (9)     E-mail article     Print view

Expect Seahawks to pick up pace under coach Jim Mora

As players packed their things at team headquarters Monday with the Seahawks' season over, some paused to reflect on the incoming head coach, Jim Mora.

Seattle Times staff reporter

Few Seahawks know Jim Mora the way Patrick Kerney does.

Mora was Kerney's head coach with the Atlanta Falcons for three seasons, 2004 to 2006. Then both arrived in Seattle before the 2007 season. Kerney, a defensive end, had a Pro Bowl year, then had his 2008 season cut short because of a shoulder injury that required an operation. Mora spent his first season as an assistant coach, then was named Mike Holmgren's successor as head coach in February.

Kerney and other Seahawks talked about the transition from Holmgren to Mora as the players spent Monday at team headquarters meeting with Holmgren for the final time before cleaning out their lockers and saying goodbye for the offseason.

One thing is certain — practice under Mora will be conducted at a faster tempo.

"You don't just jog to the next drill, it's a three-quarter run to the next drill," Kerney said. "Defensively, he charts effort on every snap of every practice, for every little detail of your effort towards getting to the ball for every position on the field. Like I've told guys, 'Make sure [you're in] great shape when you get back.' "

It's easy to say that Holmgren is an offensive-minded coach and Mora is defensive-minded. But Mora has an energetic, youthful, hands-on presence as a coach where Holmgren was more of an overseer who often observed his assistants and players from a distance during practice.

Like Holmgren in Seattle, Mora cared a lot about his players when he was the Falcons' coach.

"Roddy White, who is now a Pro Bowl receiver, had some difficulty in Jim's last year [in Atlanta]," Kerney said. "Jim took the time on Tuesdays to work with Roddy, have catches with him, things like that. That's rare for a head coach, I think. That type of commitment makes him someone you really want to work hard for."

Tuesday is typically the players' off day in the NFL.

Mora's chest-bumping, fist-pumping style is one that his defensive backs — the unit he coached the past two seasons — have come to enjoy. And they say the rest of the Seahawks will soon see what they mean.

"He loves the game, he loves coaching, and he loves being around the game of football," cornerback Marcus Trufant said. "I think that's going to kind of trickle down to the team — his excitement, his enthusiasm. He's out there on the practice field. He's running around. He's throwing the ball around. He's having fun."

Note

• OL Ray Willis, who is set to become a free agent, expressed his desire to remain with the Seahawks after Sunday's season-ending loss at Arizona. Willis, a fourth-round pick in 2005 who has spent all four of his pro seasons in Seattle, received his first significant playing time in 2008 and drew praise from the coaching staff for his effort. "This organization drafted me and gave me the chance, and I feel like I'm a Seahawk," Willis said.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Seahawks headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
And last year, they didn't get lit up like a Christmas tree. Know what the difference is? The pass rush. In 2007, it was good. In 2008, it was...  Posted on December 30, 2008 at 8:30 AM by SpacemanBuckethead. Jump to comment
I hope the Seahawks get Mike Shanahan as the the assistant head coach and Offensive Coordinator. He will get a break from being head coach for 14...  Posted on December 30, 2008 at 9:16 PM by Dirtydog. Jump to comment
i hope they sign willis...he is developed and is still developing with a nasty streak which this team needs into a good player and he's still...  Posted on December 30, 2008 at 5:05 PM by DJS425. Jump to comment

advertising

NEW - 08:13 PM
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes what he sees, keeps mum on Walter Jones

UPDATE - 07:26 PM
New Orleans is jazzed during parade for Super Bowl champions | NFL

UPDATE - 07:03 PM
St. Louis running back Steven Jackson will not face criminal charges | NFL

New Orleans celebrates Super Bowl title

Super Bowl most watched TV show ever

Advertising

Video

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Fatal crashes are down in Washington, and a national used-car database goes onlinenew
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising